Using Home Equity Loans To Make Home Improvements

Home improvement loans can provide money for a complete home remodel or specific home

improvements. These upgrades can transform your house into a home and increase your property

value. Another benefit is that the money is tax deductible. As long as you carefully

evaluate your financial situation, you may use a home equity loan to make home

improvements.

Home improvement loans are not the same as construction loans. Construction loans provide

financing for building and completion of a new structure. A home improvement loan is

essentially a home equity loan placed on your existing home that you currently occupy. The

lender generally pays you in one lump-sum at closing. This is also sometimes called a second

mortgage loan.

Home equity loans are great if you only want to borrow small amounts of money for home

improvements and pay off the loan in a short amount of time. A home equity line of credit

can create flexibility and convenience by giving you the ability to withdraw money in

varying amounts as necessary. However, home equity credit lines generally use adjustable

interest rates and this carries the potential risk of increasing over the life of the home

equity loan.

Lenders rarely place restrictions on home improvement projects as long as they are conform

to your local building requirements. Depending on the size of the home improvement project

scope of the job, you may do the home improvement work yourself or hire a general

contractor. Be certain you read the fine print on your home equity loan for home

improvements because some lenders may require you to hire a contractor for the project which

can significantly increase the cost of your home improvement project.

Terms for home equity loans can range from 5 to 25 or even 30 years. Some lenders offer

fixed rate as well as balloon rate options. The minimum amount you may borrow for a home

equity loan is generally about $10,000. You can most often times borrow up to 100% or, in

some cases, even as much as 125% of the value of your home. However, most lenders will limit

a home equity loan for home improvements to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Could you use a home equity loan for some much needed home improvements? Learn which home improvement loan option is right for your family.